Nurses at the facility said one of their colleagues was attacked and beaten about the head by a patient she was trying to help. Nurses claim this is part of an ongoing pattern and there is not enough staff or security protocols in place.

KCBS’ Bob Melrose Reports:

East Bay Nurses Express Concerns After Recent Patient Attack

Nurse Charles Maltazahn was on the same floor and witnessed what happened.

“I was in a patient’s room doing patient care and charting. I heard some screaming,” he said. “The screaming got louder. I went to the room and I observed a patient jumping back into bed after he had choked and hit a nurse.”

The nurse had a reddened ear and swollen head after the attack. She was also sad to be suffering from psychological trauma.

Nurses said they plan to file a claim with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health or Cal/OSHA over the incident.

In an email, officials with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center said that nurses and security staff get extensive training on the appropriate way to respond to workplace violence and that they have begun a thorough investigation of the incident.

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